Powered tonneau fix = new dual motors setup

[txtravwill]

Sweet, you guys with powered tonneaus will have new covers that work for at least a year maybe...

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[SASSquatch]

Funny as I got lambasted here for suggesting a dual motor setup back when the failures started happening in earnest.

Don't worry NY_Rob - I got lambasted for suggesting it might be worth it to develop aero covers for the 20" wheels (now a thing) and think about vehicle mounted solar (see Fisker Ocean).

We are just visionaries in a sea of haters! ?

 

[NY_Rob]

Don't worry NY_Rob - I got lambasted for suggesting it might be worth it to develop aero covers for the 20" wheels (now a thing) and think about vehicle mounted solar (see Fisker Ocean).

We are just visionaries in a sea of haters! ?

It's ironic as my college degree is in Automotive Engineering.. but here among the acknowledged experts I don't know nothing

And yeah, rooftop solar on the R1 vehicles could likely zero out the daily losses from Vampire Drain we all complain about. And, we wouldn't need roof sunshades, etc.. to keep the heat down in the cabin. I think it's a great idea that would solve a couple of problems and put wasted real estate to good use.

 

[SASSquatch]

It's ironic as my college degree is in Automotive Engineering.. but here among the acknowledged experts I don't know nothing

And yeah, rooftop solar on the R1 vehicles could likely zero out the daily losses from Vampire Drain we all complain about. And, we wouldn't need roof sunshades, etc.. to keep the heat down in the cabin. I think it's a great idea that would solve a couple of problems and put wasted real estate to good use.

Vampire drain was my primary target for either rooftop or even tonneau-top solar on the R1 vehicles. If you are camping, it can offset your energy use with whatever you are plugging in.

In the summer it can also be used to power an exhaust system that kicks in to vent air in the cabin if temperatures exceed certain thresholds.

So many viable use cases here!

 

[supernu8]

One big advantage of using two motors is that they can put indexing marks on the underside of the panel ends which a simple optical reader could count on either side..

That mark would require all the existing panels to be modified, if they are replacing all panels that wouldn't be a big deal but I don't know if that's the plan.

I would think they would use the existing or new torque shaft to keep the gears synced and have the second motor to prevent any twist. If they remove the shaft they will need motors with encoder feedback and use the onboard computer to dynamically keep everything in sync.
Whichever solution is more cost effective wins assuming they are both more reliable than the old version.

 

[JamboF4]

FYI and take it for what it’s worth … spoke with service to ensure my truck had an open ticket for the tonneau fix (mine was delivered disabled, vs others that had theirs break along the way). Ticket is opened again, and they again claimed there was some sort of backend list that they’re working from for scheduling the fix.

Service rep informed me that the fix was indeed a dual motor setup to prevent the beam from torquing and having the panel skip a tooth.

Technically, this seems like the obvious fix. Good luck…tell us how it goes!

 

[hilld]

I want the quad motor setup. Like they have in push/pull spool guns. :-D

 

[Gee Bee]

The material used on the gear assy is the key to wear.

I sold hundreds of Ducati countershaft gears after I found a source with a good Broach machine in Oregon.

I will order the new assy for the future.

GB

 

[R1Thor]

Because it is still not a great option.

Why not?

I agree with NY_Rob. You can easily (and relatively inexpensively) source motors with encoders--encoders tell that motor EXACTLY how much it's rotated, so there'd be zero mystery to solve if one wasn't doing what it needed to do. And heck, you could either A) build redundancy into the system by simply tracking the amount of current draw between both and validating a 1:1, ergo providing you with real-time analysis, and even the opportunity to predict potential failure B) use ONLY a power-draw method to validate functionality or C) there are innumerable sensor arrays that can be added to systems like this (even simple things like limit switches at the end of the bed rails that can detect if the cover closes with any bias) that can be used with predictive algorithms to perform preventative maintenance instead of waiting for failure.

Geeze, it's like the guys swearing that our 4-motor Rivians needs to add differentials or lockers to be better off road. Just...stop. You have zero idea what you're talking about.

If you'd like to pontificate on things you know nothing about, great. I love dialogue. It's healthy-we can all learn. And hell, I've heard a lot of phenomenal ideas from people outside of our respective disciplines. THAT SAID, the minute you insist you know better than careered Engineers, technicians, and people who have actually tested these things for thousands of hours, you lose any and all credibility.

Signed: an ACTUAL Mechanical Engineer.

 

[Bart57266]

...the minute you insist you know better than careered Engineers, technicians, and people who have actually tested these things for thousands of hours, you lose any and all credibility.

That's what I was thinking!

 

[MoreTrout]

Sweet, you guys with powered tonneaus will have new covers that work for at least a year maybe...

My original single motor powered tonneau continues to work flawlessly after 15 months. I'm perfectly fine being a low priority end of the line for the replacement. Heck, I would even offer my spot in line to someone patiently waiting for one who got a truck without any cover. Everyone just seems to assume that every single powered tonneau they made is already broken. They aren't. Many are, and it obviously needed a redesign, but lots of them work just fine.

 

[PoorDick]

Denver SC told me a few weeks ago that the dual motor fix for the tonneau cover would be done during a home visit, no requirement to bring it in, and I live about 2.5 hours away so that was great news. The time frame, however, was a different story, as he said they were "months away" from getting started.

 

[SeaGeo]

Fwiw, my understanding is that components have changed, but it is still a single motor fix.

 

[mikehmb]

Fwiw, my understanding is that components have changed, but it is still a single motor fix.

I would not at all be surprised that the information I was given is inaccurate!

 

[Rad_ry]

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this thread

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